Growing up, I came to doubt the presence of God.
If there was a God, he would never have let me grow up without parents.
I thought I had only myself to rely on and gods 
were just excuses people created for their helplessness.

One day, the entire village was suddenly in a festive mood.
I might have heard someone important had visited the village
but I was too excited to care. I fed myself on stolen food.
When the villagers were distracted, I got to have a feast.

That night, I sneaked into the shopping street and took my sweet time
tasting and stealing food while everyone else celebrated
whatever there was to celebrate.  

I shouldn't have let my guard down. I ran into the village guards. 
I took flight and hid in a nearby church.

It was dead quiet inside that church. Then I heard someone singing. 
I followed the voice where it came from and there I saw her. 
The woman whose singing voice I heard was wearing a pure white robe
and a hat adorned with a cross. 
She smiled and gestured at me to come closer. 
I wouldn't dare get near her. I didn't want to taint her holiness with my dirty presence. 
Since I didn't move, she came to me, her beautiful smile never wavering. 

"Poor child. God must have brought you to me today. He is always with you."

She placed her hand on my head and gave me her blessing in a singing voice.
That night I felt warmth that I'd never felt before.

The next day, I went back to the church in hopes of seeing her again. 
She prayed in front of hundreds of people, praising God in her singing voice. 
She then told us about Him.  
I have no doubt everyone who was there that day had embraced God through her voice. 

Later, I joined the Order and learned she was one of the
high-ranking crusaders called the Evangelists.

Everyone, God is always with you. Some of you just haven't realized that yet.

I hope this story I told you and the songs I sang for you will help you get closer to Him.
Thank you for joining me today.

- From a sermon an Evangelist performed in a village she visited -